Rahman’s prayer, Ramayana’s scale

A.R. Rahman moves from the simple strength of a prayer in Lagaan's "O Paalanhaare" to the epic scale of Ramayana, collaborating with Hans Zimmer on "Rama Theme."

Tracklist

O Paalanhaare — A.R. Rahman, Lata Mangeshkar & Udit Narayan
Jai Jai Ram — A.R. Rahman, Shreya Ghoshal, Arijit Singh & Kumar Vishwas
Rama Theme — Hans Zimmer & A.R. Rahman

Transcript

O Paalanhaare — A.R. Rahman, Lata Mangeshkar & Udit Narayan

In Lagaan, villagers face a cricket match against the British. If they lose, their community could have to pay three times the land tax. They pray for a way through, and Rahman’s Krishna bhajan “O Paalanhaare” enters the film at that moment. Javed Akhtar wrote the words, and Lata Mangeshkar sings; this recording also credits Udit Narayan. Suanshu Khurana hears the composition’s strength in its simplicity, rather than in a dramatic flourish. Hear O Paalanhaare by A.R. Rahman, Lata Mangeshkar & Udit Narayan.

Jai Jai Ram — A.R. Rahman, Shreya Ghoshal, Arijit Singh & Kumar Vishwas

The prayer in Lagaan met one moment in the villagers’ story. For Ramayana, Rahman describes work spanning songs and a score, five languages, and Indian and Hollywood versions. “Jai Jai Ram” is on the Hindi soundtrack, credited to Rahman, Shreya Ghoshal, Arijit Singh and Kumar Vishwas. Rahman says the team felt pressure over every note and tune. Hear Jai Jai Ram by A.R. Rahman, Shreya Ghoshal, Arijit Singh & Kumar Vishwas.

Rama Theme — Hans Zimmer & A.R. Rahman

Producer Namit Malhotra was looking for the best of East and West when Hans Zimmer joined Ramayana, Suanshu Khurana writes. On the Hindi soundtrack, “Rama Theme” bills Zimmer and Rahman together. Hear Rama Theme by Hans Zimmer & A.R. Rahman.

Lagaan’s villagers prayed for help. Rahman says Zimmer’s name could bring a new audience’s curiosity to Ramayana, a story important to the Subcontinent’s cultural imagination.